Seekers Retreat 2011 - Daylesford, Victoria, Australia

RETREAT PHOTOS plus FEEDBACK

"Between the 'strange' sense of humour of Faraz Rabbani and Afroz Ali, the Retreats should have a comedy sketch session."

"I thought I was going to have sandwiches and spaghetti everyday because that is what I had when I used to go to go camps. This was five star, Alhamdulillah just the food was worth coming for! :) " (sorry I didn't come across any photos of food, so tea will do =) )

"Until the retreat, I though all kinds of singing was Haram. now I know better. Thank you AGC, keep up the good work and don't worry about the rumours and complaints about you. I saw first hand and it was the best thing for me."

Ya Sayyidi Ya Rasulallah - Singapore Haqqani Ensemble - Retreat 2011

Retreat Feedback:

"Nader Khan rocks! His voice is WOW! That group from Singapore (Singapore Haqqani Ensemble) was amazing, please bring them back again."

Crooked Rib - Art Installation For Seekers Retreat 2011

Retreat feedback regarding the ambience of the retreat:

"I cannot believe AGC went as far as decorating the place in such a beautiful way, Masha Allah! When I found out that Crooked Rib Art did the decor, I was so happy and want to thank AGC for giving them such an opportunity. It is rare to see local organisations supporting local talent. Thank you for putting so much effort in making the place feel right."

For enquiries about the artwork please email crookedrib.art@gmail.com

The silk panel in the prayer room.

Day shot.

The silk panels in the lecture hall.

'Knowledge is light'

Sold!

'Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny'

Crooked Rib Girls <3

Less A Home

© 2011, Haneen Al-Eisawi.
Haneen is Imam Afroz's 12 year old daughter, who has a tremendously compassionate side. She wrote this piece as part of her school assignment, based on her exposure to homelessness through Al-Ghazzali Centre’s Ansaar Project.


The feeling of being alone; the tears that run down my cheeks- does anyone care? The silence to my question fills my head. All I have is my cardboard box and the clothes on my back. I sit in the alleyway as I watch mice and leaves scatter across the rough, dirty concrete. I walk on the streets where eyes watch and peer out of the nice cars they drive. They look away and turn their cheeks, and get along with their day just like every other whilst I look in the trash to find my day’s nourishment.

They sit and stare and laugh the day away. Do they care? Do they feel? Don’t they see what’s going around them? If they only knew how it feels to be alone or lose everything they have or be left cold outside. But the warmth of the sun keeps me company during the day in the city as I sit underneath my cardboard box; I am beginning to think it is my only friend and the only thing that cares about me. I put my dirty and rusty hat out on the pathway in front of me waiting for someone with warmth in their heart to give a little of their own to the less fortunate. I wait but all I see are feet walking past . All I hear are the screaming and violence in my head. The flashbacks of the screaming; the scream of pain I longed for people to hear. When no one cared to listened is when I needed people to listen most. The violence that went by, the feelings I never shared: why didn’t I scream it out for everyone to hear and awaken their heedless souls. If only I got one more chance to do things differently. If only the people sat and heard my story and actually listened. I would shout it out for the whole world to hear; I would write it in the sky with clouds.

I long for the feeling to shine for once, as myself, and not to be alone, and feel a part of something meaningful. I stand up on my two feet, rising, growing in self -confidence. Everyone stares as I shout and shout, “I had a family once too, I’m just like all of you; I am the same as you. I lost all my loved ones. Do you know how it feels lose them? But do you care? Anyone?” I gasp for breath and try to keep still on my two feet. I close my eyes hard as tears bathe them. Then, I open them and the crowd stares back at me with their bead-like eyes.

What I saw next was shocking and made me feel like the most special person alive. I bear witness to it till this day. Of all people, a child came forth in front of me, getting on to his knees and placing a 50 cent coin into my dirty, rusty hat. After a long while, my face broke into a smile. The child’s generosity shined like the coin in my hat.

In the world there are well over 100 million people who are homeless. They are lost and don’t know what to do with their lives. Some of them don’t have the courage to stand up for themselves. They need support and they need people to care. Be one of those people- help and give donations to help people less fortunate than yourselves even if it is as little as fifty cents. You never know how much as little as fifty cents can help a person in need. Even a smile helps even if one is less a home.

Islam is not a revolution, it's a transformation

Interview with Imam Afroz Ali by Selma Cook

Imam Afroz Ali began the preparatory work for Al-Ghazzali Centre about ten years ago. He is a man with a vision and his intention to develop the centre began when he asked Hamza Yusuf to come to Australia and do some lectures and maybe hold a conference. Hamza Yusuf asked Imam Afroz a fundamental question: "What have you done to prepare people for knowledge?" Imam Afroz recalls: "At first I wasn't thinking to set up a new organization but work with existing ones, thinking they had the necessary skills and infrastructure but I found that they were not sufficient to fulfill my vision."

Imam Afroz underwent study in Mauritania and through his learning he realized that he must be a facilitator for students; not just a role model. The Imam observes: "Because knowledge is incomplete without action, I knew that if I don't help them act, my time is being wasted." He wanted to develop a model with maximum outcomes.

The basic foundation of Al-Ghazzali Centre is facilitating knowledge and helping people act upon the knowledge they gain. He called it the 'knowledge to action model'. On this basis, the centre conducts a variety of courses, lessons and activities and is always involved in community work like visiting the sick, feeding the homeless and cleaning Muslim graveyards.

Holding yearly retreats is part of the centre's facilitation of knowledge and Imam Afroz recognizes there are many people who are seekers of knowledge at a semi-formal or informal level as well as those who are not yet seeking knowledge appropriately or sufficiently. The idea of the retreat is a concept borrowed from Zaytuna Institute's Deen Intensive to help students who are still learning about the significance of spiritual knowledge. Attendees receive practical advice based on practical scholarship, and learn how to make Islam a living part of their lives. Imam Afroz comments: "The main purpose of the retreat is to provide potential students with a stepping stone to take their knowledge seeking seriously and do it in a more structured way."

Those who attended the retreat had one thing in common; they want Islam to be a more significant part of their lives. The Imam explains: "Students are exposed to intensive learning where Fiqh takes on a spiritual perspective and spirituality becomes practical."

The Imam believes this year's retreat is unique: "For the first time we truly hit the mark of 'practical spirituality' by the theme of the retreat (Journey to Allah) and specifically by having nasheed singers and involving local artists to create an atmosphere of spirituality that was visually manifest."

Al-Ghazzali Centre's retreats are based on a rotating system and each affiliated organization creates its own theme but Imam Afroz ensures that the Fiqh is seen from a spiritual perspective and that spiritually takes on practical aspects. How the atmosphere is created is up to each participating organization.

Such retreats uplift the spirits and refine the thinking and behavior of those who attend. This is the affect of having come in contact with the message of Islam which is a proposition of ethics, well-being and care for this planet that we all share. Imam Afroz continues: "We'd like to propose to people that there is a divine Creator, and it is deserving of us to respond to our Creator. We are inviting people to an alternative reality." The modern world is accustomed to an unethical, materialistic consumer-based lifestyle, and the message of Islam transforms that to one which is for higher purposes.

Developing the individual and the community to live an ethical lifestyle begins with awareness and spirituality that is transformed into positive action. The retreat is designed for communal participation and young and old learn together side by side in the true spirit of community. For many people the retreat was a catalyst for change that will spread to many aspects of life.

Al-Ghazzali Centre is based in Sydney, Australia and seeks to make Australia a better place. Imam Afroz makes a significant observation: "Islam is not a revolution, it's a transformation. As people live by the true concepts and model of Islam and make this their framework, any country they are in would be a better place." The Imam continues: "We all seek happiness and well-being and this is the goal of Islam but we must become aware that there is a divine reality; and not just focus on outward actions derived from individual perceptions."

Islam as a whole applies to everyone and it produces community dynamics and cooperation that is without borders. The centre has partnered with the most honorable facilitators of knowledge, SeekersGuidance, not only to build local communities but a regional and global community.

Al-Ghazzali Centre is developing its international community in response to the modern world. Imam Afroz remarks: "People move around and if we don't have a community people will find themselves alone and may be distracted from practicing Islam. In a community the individual has companionship to help him with his personal development. Islam doesn't fear modernity; it's a living solution within the modern context."

Retreats like '2011 Journey to Allah' in Melbourne, Australia are affective and successful because the volunteers are also students of knowledge so they understand the reason why they do this work: they are seeking closeness with Allah the Creator.

Interview by Selma Cook.

Reflections from the Deen Intensive 2011 by Asme Fahmi

Before attending this year’s Deen Intensive, I thought I had known what to expect – having been lucky enough to have a few Deen Intensives under my belt – I thought I had it all figured out…

Being a devout Sydney-sider, it troubles me exceedingly to admit that the Victorian location was absolutely stunning. My friend Shakira said it best when she remarked: “Masha’Allah, look at how beautiful this place is; listen to the sound of the natural world in perfect synchronicity…this is the sound of the earth as Allah (swt) intended it. She then poignantly added “how mad is that?”

The location was a perfect setting for the purpose of this year’s retreat in which we had to pack our bags metaphorically and literally for our journey to Allah (swt). We travelled towards reassessing our goals and intentions with Ustadh Afroz Ali, we followed the footsteps of the beloved Messenger’s road to mercy, love and compassion (toward all human beings) with Ustadh Usama Canon and we made the hijrah to realising the greatness of God with Sheikh Faraz Rabbani.

It was an incredible honour to be in the presence of such esteemed scholars. The beauty of our surroundings coupled with the beauty of the knowledge being imparted made for a very special experience that will forever live in my memory insha’Allah.

In such special company and surroundings, I was not surprised to be witness to a couple of miracles on this spiritual adventure…

The first of these miracles was witnessing students defying their innate Muslim Standard Time complex and actually turning up to class on time. The second miracle was witnessing a programme run by an Islamic based organisation that lived up to its name and was quite well organised. This is testament to Ustadh Afroz and the amazing team at the al-Ghazzali Centre.

The volunteers were simply awe-inspiring. These volunteers were doing all the cleaning and maintenance and were sacrificing their time and education for our overall benefit and the effort they put in was seamless – all the while, they never removed those smiles from their faces. Insha’Allah these volunteers will be greatly rewarded for their efforts. And of course, the most important aspect of a spiritual retreat spearheaded by world renowned scholars is most definitely the catering. This was the best food I’ve ever had at a retreat and I feel their may be a gym membership in the horizon for me very soon.

I was also grateful to Sidi Nader Khan and the Singapore Haqqani Ensemble for giving this retreat a uniquely wonderful extra

dimension. You can tell they love doing what they do. I remember seeing The Singapore Haqqani Ensemble singing at the lunch table and having sing-a-longs with some of the participants; not too long after that, I found the Ensemble singing to the kitchen staff and having an impromptu concert in the kitchen, a few minutes after spotting them in the kitchen, I couldn’t help but notice the group singing around a tree with blissful joy and it was not long after that, I spotted them singing to the sisters in the musallah and then serenading Shaykh Faraz with ‘Tala al Badru Alayna’ as he walked in for the sisters Q and A session. Needless to say, I felt like these guys were everywhere and were defying the laws of space and time! It was just awesome to see these guys everyday, bring joy to everyone with their constant remembrance of Allah (swt). And Sidi Nader Khan was blessing to have around. His voice was a gift to us all amongst his many other gifts - not least of which was the gift of being in the pleasurable company of his wife Dr. Bano Murtuja. His songs were so touching and I couldn’t help but notice his song ‘Alhamdulillah’ made some of the brothers get rather emotional. No names mentioned…Adnan Sawan.

Overall, a retreat like this is a much needed iman boost. The environment was beautiful and so was the company. We journeyed from all parts of Australia to meet scholars who had travelled from all over the globe to be in our presence. We were transported to a time and place that felt just about right. There was such a great feeling of love between the students and a feeling of love for the shuyookh; though, more importantly, a greater love was fostered for Allah (swt) and His messenger (saw). I’m sure people have made life-long friends at this retreat and life-long connections to our honoured guests. And in this regard, I guess the journey is only beginning for many of us.

I’m going to end this reflection with some vintage ‘Rabbinisms’. I’m sure some of you have noticed Shaykh Faraz Rabbani’s love for acronyms by now, so I’ve decided to compile a greatest hits collection (sponsored by Steve Jobs, The Appleism Ideology and The Attitudinally Divergent):

1. GTD: Getting Things Done
2. PME: Parental Marriage Equation
3. PDS: Parental Deflation Syndrome
4. NFZ: No Fly Zone (i.e. no tea and coffee over your laptops)
5. DSD: Desi State of Deficiency
6. PAT: Prophetic Action Test (what would the Prophet [saw] do?)
7. D4A: Do it 4 Allah
8. KRSC: Keep Regular, Sustainable and Consistent
9. RAD: Remembrance and Dhikr
10. FLAME: For the Love of Allah and His Messenger
11. NRA: Newly Religious Aunty
And of course, everyone’s favourite:
12. DSM: Desperately Seeking Marriage.


Thank you to everyone involved, it was an honour to be a part of this blessed journey.

By Asme Fahmi

al Ghazzali Centre - a peek through my eyes

"Boohoo I miss al Ghazzali Centre-Sydney" - I thought to myself
"... how about you blog about it" - said the other me.
"hmmm...sometimes, when you're not bugging me with your stupid winging and what not, you have good ideas?" said I "what do i saaay??

It's amazing how you realise the quality of some-one or some-thing, once they are no longer a part of you. Being a part of the AGC Sydney team was an amazing experience.
First of all the beautiful, selfless bunch of individuals that make up the team have made me realise that there are people out there who do do things because they care, not for any other (worldly) benefit. For the sake of Allah only; and it is so sweet to see.

I miss the Ansaar Project. It has really helped me get trained to boss people around. O what a feeling!
I started with chopping onions and worked my way up. I remember my first shift, it took a bit of time conquering those carrots and cutting them into sticks. Not weird looking-miss-shaped triangles. And I cut myself pretty quickly on the day too.
Then there was frying samosas. That was pretty fun. Nowadays we bake them. It's healthier that way I guess, and saves time too.

The best part would be breaking-the-spaghetti-pack tradition, where you hit the bottom of the spaghetti pack on the table, as hard as you can, so that the other side of it breaks the top and whalah!

Cooking. If you wanna cook cook ie not just cut the vegetables and meat... you gotta go through some training. Once you're done, you're ready tooooooooooooooo.... cook. On your own!

So I passed all the training (YAY!). Came the day where I was cooking on my own. How nerve wrecking, for someone who knows close to zilch about food, other than eating it and if it tastes good or not. Luckily I had other experienced cooks on my shift, who chose to chop veggies for the day, but were readily available to help me whenever needed, taste the food for bitterness and so on.

Finally I got trained how to be a team lead too. YAY! O God, if I thought cooking on my own was nerve wrecking, wait till you experience leading a whole team of 12-16 people and making sure everything is chopped properly, on schedule, the cook’s got what he/she needs, allocating everyone to a task, making sure everyone’s being productive. Requires thinking non-stop. Gee my brain cells get fried by the end of the day!! And I still smell like curry, even though I didn’t even cook for the day =S

But the feeling of doing something that my Creator has asked me to do, help those in need – nothing like it!! <3

Cooks river. I wish I got involved with this environmental project a bit more. Weeds are such impostors. Every month there’d be a gazzilion more of them *angryface*. On a number of occasions my skirt and shirt and hijab would be infested with some spiky things… im not even sure where they’d come from.

The feel of soil on your hands (of course if you’re not wearing gloves) is so nice. Note that if you do choose to wear the gloves, you do miss out on half the fun, but you do protect your hands. Up to you what you do!!

Sitting amongst all the bushes (now they are little trees, since we planted them =) ), pulling out weeds, chatting to other volunteers, planting trees, cracking jokes, yelling out “Nelly (the coordinator)!!!! is this a weed?” etc etc – all make up the 3 hours every first Saturday of every month, at Cooks River.

The volunteers have done such a wonderful job that the Canterbury council put up a board of recognition in the middle of the bushes =)

Unbelievably I miss coordinating classes. Such a simple task, yet there was so much joy in it. From meeting all the people who come in to the class to learning so much from each class. As imam Afroz usually says, all the classes are very much connected; and trust me, as a student who’s attended many of them, they are all connected in one way or another. If you do have a chance to attend them all it will open up doors to knowledge that blows you away. And all you can do is go SubhanAllah!! Laa illaha illa Allah! No joke!

It was also interesting noticing which students came to which class.

Most importantly, I miss my mentor, imam Afroz. Not sure if he realizes but his students watch his every step. mukhahahahahah To learn of course! Trust me, it works like this, at least for me; from how he teaches his classes; the techniques he uses; how he makes connections, with what he teaches, to the world around us; how he interacts with students; how he responds when someone asks a seemingly stupid question; how he handles the team when we’re doing really well as well as when we slack behind etc etc etc

To me, he’s always been a great example of what a Muslim should be, and continues to be so. However living interstate, there’s not so much of a chance of watching his every step no more. Khayr inshAllah! I’ll stalk his every move on facebook now *evil laugh*. He does have some interesting stuff on there every now and again.

“I miss all the AGC Family kids” – said my annoying self now.

“Shut up you” said I, in an Indian accent “go and study, the retreat is next week, you’ll get to see them”

“..not all of them will be there buuuut...” – she winged again

“aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrghhhhhhhhhhhhh shooooooooooooshsshhshshshshshssh…………”

To be continued……………………